Luke 11:13 “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

In the parallel passage in Matthew 7:11 it says “good gifts” rather than “the Holy Spirit,” which would certainly indicate that the Holy Spirit is a good gift (as if we didn’t know that already)! It is ironic and sad that many in the non-charismatic camp seem actively afraid of the Holy Spirit. The problem seems to be especially a fear of losing control, which is sad on several levels. In the first place, the Holy Spirit doesn’t force, He enables. Paul said specifically that “The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets, for God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:32-33) It is true that some have used the Holy Spirit as an excuse for excess of various sorts, but that is simply a misunderstanding on the other side. A larger reason fear of losing control is sad is that when we are in control, we mess things up! If we choose to follow the Holy Spirit, He will always lead us to Jesus, and that’s always a good thing. Jesus was very clear that the gift of the Holy Spirit is to empower us to be His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) That’s what the gifts of the Holy Spirit, listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere, are all about. If our desire is to be more effective as His witnesses, then we will want everything the Holy Spirit has to give us! It is worth noting that at one point over half the Southern Baptist missionaries in Japan were Charismatic in faith and experience, even though the mission board had (and still has) an explicit policy against such. Those missionaries got on the field and realized they couldn’t possibly do the job without the help of the Holy Spirit!

This particular verse was instrumental in my own experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I had been actively seeking it, but had experienced nothing. In 1974 a missionary friend pointed out to me that everything we receive from God we receive by faith, so if God had promised me His Holy Spirit, then I should ask in faith, trust that He had been true to His Word, and thank Him for it. I did that, and felt nothing, but two days later I suddenly realized that I was actively telling a total stranger about Christ, and He brought Acts 1:8 to mind. Gifts came later, but ever since then I have never doubted that the Holy Spirit has been given to me to be a witness of Christ. It has been strange and frustrating to me that not all to whom I minister have received in faith. There too the problem often seems to be a fear of losing control. I can only pray God’s grace for them, that they may trust God enough to receive all He wants to pour out on them.

Father, thank You for Your truly amazing grace toward me. Help me be ever more effective in communicating that grace to others, so that they may repent and believe, opening up to all that You want to pour out on them as well, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!